First synthesized in 2004 by the group of Peter G. Schultz, reversine is a 2,6- diamino substituted purine showing a potent inhibition on Aurora B, a protein kinase overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors. Due to its relevance in the cell cycle regulation, Aurora B represents a good target for anti-cancer drug development, so that reversine can be used as a promising lead compound for new potential antitumor agents. Reversine is a potent human A3 adenosine receptor antagonist with Ki of 0.66 μM, and a pan-aurora A/B/C kinase inhibitor with IC50 of 12 nM/13 nM/20 nM, respectively. Reversine also inhibits Mps1. Reversine is effective in inhibiting the growth of thyroid cancer cells by cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, especially with the more aggressive ATC and PDTC. Apoptosis was induced by the mitochondria-independent pathway. Reversine is being under investigation in clinical therapeutics.